Accused cold-case killer denied bail

An Auckland man has been charged with the murder of Sara Niethe, who has not been seen since March 30, 2003. Photo / supplied

A man accused of murdering Hauraki Plains woman Sara Niethe in 2003 has again been denied bail.

Mark Pakenham appeared at the Thames District Court today where he made another application for bail.

The 49-year-old labourer was charged on August 16 with the murder of Sara Niethe, eight years after the mother of three was last seen alive.

Today, Pakenham sought bail and electronic police monitoring but was denied. Details of the bail application and his previous history have been suppressed.

Ms Niethe's body and her peppermint green Honda Civic have never been found.

No funeral has been held for the 30-year-old, who moved to the small Hauraki Plains town of Kerepehi with her three young children to start a new life.

Ms Niethe was reported missing in March 2003 when she failed to come home after visiting a man.

The last confirmed sighting of her was on closed circuit television in Ngatea, where she stopped to make a purchase on her way home.

Police spent months searching for Ms Niethe but even a $50,000 reward failed to generate any real leads.

A full review of the case was launched last November.

Pakenham will re-appear in court at a post-commital conference on December 2.